Bush* Open to U.N. Oversight of Iraq Election

[kskiska]

President Bush said yesterday that he is prepared to allow the United Nations to oversee the first postwar election in Iraq, a limited concession to demands that he give the world body a more vigorous role in rebuilding the country.

Bush made the offer as he prepared to address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, when he plans to challenge reluctant allies to show the relevance of the world body by increasing international financial and military support for Iraq.

"I do think it would be helpful to get the United Nations in to help write a constitution. I mean, they're good at that," Bush told Fox News in an Oval Office interview to be aired tonight. "Or, perhaps when an election starts, they'll oversee the election. That would be deemed a larger role."

Bush plans to follow his address with two days of lobbying for a Security Council resolution, proposed by the administration, that would give a U.N. mandate to a multinational force in Iraq under U.S. command. The first draft gave little new power to the United Nations, and administration officials have been trying to figure out how to give it more say in Iraq's political process while retaining U.S. control of the occupation.

Administration officials have resisted saying they plan to the give the United Nations a larger role. They have contended that they saw the resolution as continuing the "vital role" that Bush promised after talks in April with British Prime Minister Tony Blair as Saddam Hussein's government was disintegrating.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44759-2003Sep21.html

[lanlady]

1. correct me if I'm wrong--

--but since when does the UN write constitutions??????

[quilp]

2. Perhaps Bush would agree to a UN "oversight" of ours!

n/t

[gristy]

5. My thoughts EXACTLY.

And with is no toungue-in-cheek. No sarcasm. No nothing.

[wabeewoman]

3. In other words, he really doesn't intend to give

them a significant role to which they are going to say, ok no troops, no money. Amazing how he can be so insulting when saying so little "I do think it would be helpful to get the United Nations in to help write a constitution. I mean, they're good at that,"

[Cappurr]

4. LOL

"I do think it would be helpful to get the United Nations in to help write a constitution. I mean, they're good at that,"

How fucking patronizing.

Besides, Bush is being far too humble. He is quite good a RE-writing a constitution. He did it in order to get selected to the presidency. He did it going into Iraq. He did it with the so-called patriot act. I'm sure there are other examples but I'm too frustrated to think about it.

[NickDanger]

6. Like Iraqis would want the U.S. Supreme Court to oversee their elections

eom

[Old and In the Way]

7. I thought our constitution was pretty good,

until this administration torched it.

But it sounds to me like he wants the UN to hold the bag. I hope they tell George, no, you've been telling us how Iraq needed democracy, you lead the way.

Don't let this guy off the hook....relieve him of his responsibility in Iraq and he'll be planning the next war in Syria or Iran.

[PennyLane]

8. No, the next one will be in Lebanon

They are weak and he needs the land to broker a treaty with the Israelis and Palestine.